As LDF rally reaches Pala, old rivals trade blows

As Pala braces for yet different electoral showdown betwixt Kerala Congress (M) president Jose K. Mani and sitting legislator Mani C. Kappan, the simmering rivalry burst into the unfastened connected Monday (February 9, 2026) arsenic the Central Zone rally of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) reached the constituency.

The occurrence began o unfold erstwhile Mr. Mani, who captains the rally, utilized the level to equine a nonstop battle connected the incumbent. By invoking unfinished projects specified arsenic the River View Road and highlighting alleged absenteeism from reappraisal meetings, helium besides highlighted the developmental bequest of Pala nether the precocious K.M. Mani, the KC(M) patriarch.

“I would similar to cognize whether the sitting legislator has immoderate noteworthy task to his recognition successful the past 5 years. How galore reappraisal meetings did Mr. Kappan attend? Ninety per cent of the River View Road task was completed during K.M. Mani’s tenure. What consciousness does it marque to assertion that Jose K. Mani obstructed the completion of the remaining 10%? The MLA failed to discharge his responsibilities and is present resorting to a run of falsehoods,” Mr. Mani said.

Kappan hits back

Responding sharply, Mr. Kappan said that the radical of Pala were good alert of the facts and that Mr. Mani’s remarks reflected an anticipation of defeat. He besides alleged that Mr. Mani had approached UDF leaders seeking introduction into the beforehand and challenged him to beryllium otherwise. Mr. Kappan further claimed that onshore acquisition for the attack roadworthy to the Kalariyammakkal span had been stalled owed to Mr. Mani’s interference and pointed retired that the London Bridge successful Pala town, inaugurated by the Chief Minister, had inactive not been opened to the public.

According to Mr. Kappan, the much-touted exemplary of improvement during K.M. Mani’s tenure was confined to conscionable 2 wards successful Pala. He reiterated his allegation that the KC(M) president had consistently stood successful the mode of improvement initiatives successful the constituency. “These tactics volition not enactment earlier the radical of Pala. Mr. Mani should not harbour dreams of victory. The radical of Pala are intimately watching to spot whether helium volition adjacent contest,” helium said. On the occasion, Mr. Kappan besides refuted allegations that helium had opposed the connection to acceptable up a crab centre successful Pala.

The speech assumes value arsenic Pala, which has agelong been a focal constituent of governmental churn successful Kerala, is already heating up up of a imaginable high-stakes contention betwixt the two. While some Mr. Mani and Mr. Kappan person begun groundwork successful the constituency, the imaginable introduction of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State vice-president Shaun George could crook the conception into a fierce triangular fight.